Toast Speech by PM Lee Hsien Loong at the Lunch Reception with Kenyan President William Ruto (May 2023)

President William Ruto of the Republic of Kenya, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. It's my great honour to thank the President for his toasts, to thank him for his hospitality and also for the very good discussions and engagements which we have had on this visit, and especially this morning with him and his ministers.

Our friendship with Kenya goes back a long way. As I mentioned at the press conference just now, Mr Lee Kuan Yew visited Kenya in 1964, leading a delegation and met President Jomo Kenyatta. And almost 60 years since then, our relations have been friendly and have gradually but steadily grown.

On my trip today, it’s an effort for us to nourish this friendship and take it another step forward. I brought a business delegation with me, which shows the interest we have in enhancing the trade and economic opportunities between our two countries. And the MOUs which we have signed this morning, shows that the efforts have got full support from the government. And for that, I would especially wish to thank President Ruto for his personal attention, which has brought about this good outcome.

So I look forward very much to receiving him in Singapore, hosting him and reciprocating this hospitality. And I'd like to ask everybody to rise and join me in a toast, to the good health of President Ruto, to the prosperity of Kenya and its peoples and to the flourishing of our relationship and friendship between our two peoples.